Pdrk^like Floor of Hctch'Hetchy Valley 



Photo by y. F. Kiiiiiiaii 



nooks by the falls, and the sturdy, 

 broad-shouldered pteris beneath the 

 oaks and pines. 



In spite of the fact that this is a 

 national property dedicated as a public 

 park for all time in which every citizen 

 of the United States has a direct in- 

 terest, certain individuals in San Fran- 

 cisco conceived the idea that here would 

 be an opportunity to acquire a water 

 supply for the city at the expense of 

 the nation. 



But light has been brought to bear 

 upon it, and everybody is beginning' to 

 see more and more clearly that the com- 

 mercial invasion of the Yosemite Park 

 means that sooner or later under va- 



rious specious beguiling pleas, all the 

 public parks and playgrounds through- 

 out our country may be invaded and 

 spoiled. The Hetch-Hetchy is a glar- 

 ingly representative case, involving as 

 it does the destruction of one of the 

 grandest features of the Yosemite Na- 

 tional Park, which, if allowed, would 

 create a most dangerous precedent. 



Judging from the way that the coun- 

 try has been awakened to the impor- 

 tance of park preservation, it is incred- 

 ible that the people will tolerate the de- 

 struction of any part of the great 

 Yosemite Park, full of God's noblest 

 handiwork, forever dedicated to benefi- 

 cent public use. 



269 



